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APRIL FOOLS DAY




Downloadable worksheets:
MY BEST APRIL FOOLS� DAY
Level: elementary
Age: 12-17
Downloads: 606

 
April Fools� Day Pranks and Hoaxes
Level: intermediate
Age: 10-17
Downloads: 348

 
April Fools� Day.
Level: intermediate
Age: 12-14
Downloads: 321

 
Me? Crazy? Nooo! (Useful Tips to ANNOY people) :)
Level: intermediate
Age: 14-17
Downloads: 277

 
April Fools� Day
Level: intermediate
Age: 10-17
Downloads: 276

 
APRIL FOOLS� DAY
Level: intermediate
Age: 12-14
Downloads: 248

 

 
 Many of the ancient cultures such as Romans and Hindus and the medieval Europeans used to celebrate New Year's Day sometime near the vernal equinox that could range from March 20th to April 5th. In the Julian calendar, April 1st was designated as the New Year's Day and was so celebrated till 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII ordered the adoption of the new Gregorian calendar, which specified January 1st as the New Year's Day. However, due to slow communication and resistance of people to change their traditions, many people continued to celebrate New Year's Day as before on 1st of April. For example, the Scottish only adopted the new calendar in 1660, the Germans, Danish and Norwegians in 1700 and the English in 1752.


Many French resisted the change and they were dubbed as fools and played pranks on. They were sent the fake invitations for parties and tricked into believing something false. The victims were called 'Poisson d'Avril' or 'April Fish' as the inexperienced fish gets caught easily and children would often tag of a fish's picture on someone's back. Thus, April Fools’ Day originated and was popularly celebrated in England and in the American colonies. It evolved and was caught on quickly throughout the world to trick each other and have fun. Even today, people play pranks on each other on this day in the memory of those tradition-obsessed 'fools'.

 vocabulary: 

vernal equinox= Spring eqinox. 
endure= soportar 
prank=broma 
 
 

True or False?

New Year’s Day used to be celebrated in spring in ancient cultures. True     False  

The Julian calendar was used till 1528 all over Europe.  True            False    

People were not willing to accept the Gregorian calendar.   True           False   

People who were played jokes on were called April Fish.    True           False  

Playing tricks on 1st April is not common anymore.     True       False   

Experienced fish are easy to catch       True        False  
 
The fool ones got a picture of a fish on their backs.  True     False   
 

Choose and Write the correct word from parentheses according to the traditions of April Fool´s day. 

 On 'All Fools' Day' or 'April Fools' Day', people play practical  (jokes/music) and pranks on each other, crack jokes on the expense of victims and gift each other gag gifts and then when the victims are taken in by  (marriage/innocent) , all the witnesses shout 'April Fool' at once. The   (innocent/illegal) pranks such as prompting somebody that their shoelaces are   (tied/undone) or that they have something on their faces are quite common.

At some places, one is only allowed to play jokes until 12 noon for the jokes played after that time are supposed to bring bad luck to the (perpetrator/innocent). Similarly, the victim is advised to  (endure/ deny) the tricks with a smile on their face, exhibiting tolerance or amusement or they may suffer bad luck, It is said that those fooled by a pretty girl can expect  (marriage/money) or at least friendship with her. Men are advised not to marry on this day or their wives will rule them  (never/forever). Children born on 1st of April are considered lucky generally, except in  ( gambling/endure) where they will fare badly.

At some places, afternoon on 1st April is called as 'Leggin'-down-day' and the gamblieople try to trip up any unsuspecting victim. British media, normally considered  (innocent/jokes) and sober, give in to the excitement and tomfoolery of the day and consider hoaxes on this day as a  (funny/wrong) game. With the Internet to assist them, playing pranks had become a lot easier, fun and far reaching. April Fools’ Day is one of the funniest and most popular pastimes of the day.

 

 

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